How animals can predict earthquakes

For years it has been common for people to observe the strange behaviour of animals before an earthquake strikes but recently, scientists have begun to speculate exactly what does cause this phenomena to happen.

And it seems that Chemistry may hold the answer ….

….. The current line of thinking is that chemical changes to ground water are the answer. It is thought that the extreme pressures that rocks undergo causes the formation of charge particles (ions) that make their way into ground water. Animals living in or close to this water are sensitive to the changes that the charged particles bring about.

The details seem patchy but it is thought that the charged particles may react with organic molecules in the ground water, turing them from harmless molecules to more materials.

For more information follow the link below to the BBC website that has reported this phenomena.

Click here